Here’s how to make Windows 8, or even 8.1, look like your favourite version of Windows from the past.

1. Get a Start Menu

First things first: if you want an experience that’s anything like the Windows 7/XP you remember, you’re going to want a Start menu. Nothing makes your system feel less like a classic version of Windows than the modern (aka Metro) Start screen.

You can choose themes for your menu, and use custom images as your Start button. As you’ll see below, this makes it really easy to get a Start menu that blends perfectly with the look and feel of Windows versions past.

There are two main programs out there for the job: UXStyle and UXThemePatcher. Both patch Windows 8 so that you can use custom themes – something Microsoft disables by default. I personally had better luck with UXThemePatcher, but your milage may vary.

Once you’ve patched Windows, you’ll need to restart your computer. Then we’ll get to the fun part.

3. Install Custom Themes

Once everything is patched, installing themes will be as easy as dragging them into the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes folder on your computer.

Once you’ve installed a theme, right-click your desktop and click “Personalize”. If you’ve patched everything properly, and installed extra themes, you should see new options. Just click an option to use it – it’s that easy.

Now that you know how to install and use themes, let’s check out some of your options.

Like Classic Mode

Of course, back in the days of XP, many users turned off the green and blue theme in favour of Classic Mode. If you want that back, the Windows Clasic Theme is a close approximation of what you’re looking for.

It’s not perfect, but it is simple. Combine it with the proper Start button and you can just about party like it’s 1999.

Which Windows Look Will You Use?

So there you have it: how to make Windows 8 look like Windows 7 or XP. Part of me wishes Microsoft would offer this option by default, but I suppose they want more control over the look and feel of their product – and to give it a modern feel. Not so long ago we also showed you how to make Windows 7 look like Windows XPHow To Make Windows 7 Look Like Windows XPHow To Make Windows 7 Look Like Windows XPSome people have a hard time letting go of Windows XP. If you know someone like that, follow this tutorial and they won't even know you upgraded them to Windows 7.Read More, and now we can do the same thing with Windows 8. Windows is pretty flexible, thanks to third party tools – we hope this never changes.

Yeah all is OK but one big thing is forgotten. Context menus. Context menu in Windows 8 and 10 looks awful and huge. XP themes are only for windows but not for menus. Menus are still original Windows 8 and 10's menus. If someone is able to change Windows 8 and Windows 10 to look like XP's or even 2000's then call me. :) I prefer XP menu but I'd be OK with classic (2000) menu. Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10 have ugly menus.

I have two questions if you wouldn't mind... Did installing the shell just cover up UI or did it replace it? I'd like my processing power back lol. And two, can you install the shell on a separate user or will it be system wide?

At home, I have all my XP and Win7 machines set to the 95/98 classic look with a bit of customizing. I never liked the default 'nana' theme of XP (big green button makes things go, big red button makes things stop), and the look of 7 never really appealed.

I am still running XP. For all the doom and gloom of Microsoft not supporting XP, it still works well and does everything I need on a computer( communication and entertainment). When my computers die of natural causes I will upgrade the whatever the current operating system is. As far as themes go, the theme that each new operating system comes with has more to do with marketing then real improvement in usefulness. I will stick with the Classic theme that I am used too. Bells and whistles that slow down the system are a waste of resources in my opinion.

Have Win 10 on my computer, sadly the start up menu is cluttered every program you have is on it, but all in all win 10 feels and looks more like xp. Now if they just bring back our ability to load desktop themes, there are so many nice ones out there. Doubt if I ever go back to either win 7 or 8.

Not to mention the nonsensical, chaotic folder structure since Vista. Why can't a program have all the files, including profiles, savegames, screenshots, etc. in the same folder, instead of being spread over a thousand folders that never get cleared out when the program is uninstalled. I keep finding files from software I uninstalled years ago...

Been using the Win98 look for 15 years. WinXP with Classic Theme is the best combo ever. Win8 is just rubbish. Every new version of Windows makes me hate Microsoft more and more for making my life difficult, to the point of needing third party software (ClassicShell) to be able to use the old-school, perfectly functional, simple and user-friendly work environment.

Thank you for this article, and to say to the people that's an old versus young or people who love the new versus people adverse to change is nonsense, I'm a techie and work in IT and also life the new. But I could not do my job using it Windows 8 as it was period, PC users and those that use for work do more than surf the net, look at photos, be on social media all day, etc etc. As for the live tiles, I am continually fixing friends devices as they have unknowingly dragged tiles on top of one another, also there is the issue in running multiple apps and programs, its pure nuts for a work pc, when I'm working I can have over 20 different software programs running like Putty, Work email Tool, RDP, Office etc and various documents, try doing that with the so called multitasking, its juts pure nuts.

Just found this article at the right time. I upgraded my Laptop but didn't want the Windows 8 feel. I think we still have some more time before we get used to adapting to change. The Windows 8 feel wasn't bad but the fact that we have been used to the Start Menu for years makes it a lot difficult to adapt, I guess.

Thank you for this assist. I work with seniors with their cellphones, computers & tablets. Unfortunately for them, sometimes their younger family members try to rush them in to new technology before they're ready to deal with it (while some may never be ready for it). This little fix here ought to save me a battle with a stubborn son & help his 80+ year old mom still be able to get her e-mail!

Windows 8.1 Pro x64 with Classic Shell set to Classic Mode, then:
System Properties > Performance Settings > Visual Effects >
Adjust for best performance. This turns off most of the bells and whistles in one or two clicks.

When you run a video editing or similar program - all the computer resources that MS hijacked to make the OS look pretty are available for the running programs . It can make 4-5 year old processors run like an modern i5 machine.

Let's face it, once my browser, Word and editing program are running I don't even see the tricky visual desktop effects all my working day.

Well personally I always prefer the new and modern, no matter what. Of course sometimes you'll miss something that you're used to, but I always find a way to ignore the bad things and enjoy the new and good things. :-)

That's nice enough if you're a child with nothing important to do, and your PC and everything on it is just a way to occupy your time, but there are people who have actual work they have to get done. For those of us in that boat, time spent getting one's tools set up to where one can work is time one is not earning his keep. You'll understand someday.

Classic Shell is outstanding I love it! Microsoft made a mistake putting Live Tiles crap in Start Menu, they should have just acquired Classic Shell and hired the guys who would fix the rest of the broken OS for them.

Good article, the change in user interface for Microsoft products like Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows have attracted many users and might even have made things easier but for many users who knew exactly one way of doing things suffer a lot. I came across so many people looking for start menu in windows 8, the problem is not limited to users with limited skills and know how, even people who regularly trouble shoot windows find it difficult to locate various components.

Discerning people often turn their nose up at fashionable trends, and rightly so - when you consdier fashion has given us such monstrosities as flares, or jeans which sag down at the back like a builder's backside.

Thomas Kuhn established in The Structure of Scientific Revelations that the linear conceptualization of scientific progress, in this case the science being computer science, is not accurate. In the case of Windows 8/8.1, Microsoft let function follow form, evidenced by the swathes of wasted space in the Metro UI and the inability to access all relevant settings for anything from the same desktop environment. Linux has successfully managed to have productive spaces similar to the Metro environment for years now, but because the developers were concerned precisely with functionality they work far better. The look is irrelevant, criticizing someone for that is as dumb as criticizing them for drinking a different soda than you. However, the function was undoubtedly lost in 8.1. Once that is restored, however (I personally use Start8), the environment opens up significantly and if someone would like to alter the form, power to them. The underpinnings 8.1 are definitely stronger in terms of boot, file copy, battery life in laptops, and gaming performance, but the implementation was terrible and it's great that there are people such as the author of this article that tries to make it easy for others to fix that.

I think FIRSTCLASS's sneer "Those who can't move forward" is utter rubbish.
1 - First, let the Giant MS wait long enough to get just one of their OS's completely right before moving on to yet another half-right system.
2 - Next, as computer technology advances in terms of speed, capacity, etc, I want these advantages for myself and not to have it all gobbled up by childish "advances" which move us "forward".
3 - All we ever needed was XP+SP3 plus fixes to whatever bugs weren't corrected in SP3. Then the extra computer speed would work for me, not keep a room full of long-haired adolescents in a job making their software appeal increasingly to child-like illiterates like FIRSTCLASS - and maybe all of you twits out there.
4 - In short, I want to be in charge of my own computer, not be led through such channels as the aforesaid adolescents wish to ordain.
5 - Maybe I should take the time and make the effort to convert to LINUX MINT. Who needs all this MS rubbish anyway.
Most sincerely, Clive.

In response to firstclass's "Good for people who cant’ move forward" I should say that nearly all PCs I have seen in research institutes or universities used for any serious work use Windows 7 or XP. There was never that kind of response with previous versions of Windows. This has only really happened with Windows 8.

Besides, I have had Windows 8 on a laptop for nearly two years and I do not think I have yet found any use for whatever is on the Start screen. Users should have the freedom to choose not to have to go through that to get to the desktop.

Justin Pot is a technology journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He loves technology, people and nature – and tries to enjoy all three whenever possible. You can chat with Justin on Twitter, right now.